If you are at all like me, you like to prepare and pack in advance for your tropical vacation.
If you are also like me, you tend to over-pack. So, I came up with a very helpful list of what to pack for a 7-8 day warm-weather vacation, that has the essentials, plus a few options, without packing too much that you won't end up wearing.
Packing ListFootwear/Shoes
- Comfortable flip-flops
- Semi-dressy sandals/wedges
- Tennis Shoes
- Water Shoes
Swim Wear (Pack 3 suits, whether 1 or 2 piece)
- Solid color bikini
- Black bikini
- Colorful/printed bikini
- Cover-up dress
- Sarong
Active Wear
- Black yoga pants
- Black long-sleeve hoodie
- Work-out tank with built-in sports bra
Accessories
- Black billed-hat
- White sun hat
- Brown floppy brimmed sun hat
- Clutch
- White stretchy-belt
- Brown stretchy-belt
- Sunglasses
- Hawaiian hair flowers
- Jewelry
- Small, collapsible umbrella
- Large, light-weight neck scarf
- Small, draw-string backpack
- Small purse
Weasel Wear
- Bras
- Underwear
- Sexy nightgown
Semi-Dressy-Wear
- 3 colorful sundresses
- 2, mix-matching sweaters (1 tan, 1 white)
Top-Wear
- 1 tan medium-weight jacket
- 8 assorted tank top/blouses
- ½ printed
- ½ solid
Lower-Wear
- 1 pair tan, long-to-capri convertible pants
- 3-4 pairs shorts/skirts
The Method Behind the Madness: Why pack these things? What did you pack?
Footwear/Shoes
Comfortable flip-flops: for
beach/pool-wear
Semi-dressy sandals/wedges: to wear
with dresses or dressy outfits, should be neutral so they will go
with almost anything, tan works best
Tennis Shoes: to wear while going
hiking, beach-combing, or while in the resort gym or for a morning
walk, not your nicest or grubbiest pair, but if they get dirty, you
won't cry (due to red dirt of hawaii/rain)
Water Shoes (necessary if you plan on snorkeling) use with flippers/mask/snorkel)
Swim Wear
Red/hearts bikini
Black bikini
Hawaiian multi-print bikini
Red cover-up dress: for right after
shower/pool when you need to be covered but not fully dressed, nice
for lounging post-pool or beach
Teal sarong: to cover up, or walk to
pool in bikini
Active Wear
Black yoga pants
Black long-sleeve hoodie: if it is
windy or chilly pre/post sunrise/sunset
Work-out tank with built-in sports
bra: in case you feel like working out or going for a jog
Accessories
Black billed-hat: in case of wind,
this will save you from bad hair days and bad pictures, also shades
you from the sun
White sun hat
Brown floppy brimmed sun hat: best
worn poolside or on non-windy days, especially great if you want to
look fabulous or like a movie star while going to the beach/pool
Silver-sparkle clutch: to slip the
contents of your little purse into for going out to fancy dinner
White stretchy-belt
Brown stretchy-belt: these should
correspond with at least 2 dresses or blouses
Sunglasses: you're in Hawaii, need I
say more?
Hawaiian hair flowers: in case where
you are going doesn't have an ABC store, bring the ones you most
often wear, to see what you wear, how worn they are in case you want
to get more, given the opportunity
Jewelry: Bring 1-2 well-chosen
necklaces with matching earrings, as you will probably be wearing
bikinis under most outfits, and you will almost always be in the sun,
do not wear necklaces except during formal dinners, as necklaces will
leave tan-marks
Small, collapsible umbrella: in case
of rain or emergency shade
1 tan medium-weight jacket: wear on plane, in cooler situations
Large, light-weight neck scarf: to
wear on plane, and also for sun-coverup
Small, draw-string backpack: to take
to the beach/pool. I constantly had mine ready with mini-sunscreen,
hand sanitizer, water bottle, book, sunglasses, power
bar/fruit/snack, flip-flops, towel and headphones/also double as
purse, slip in wallet/money/room key
Small purse: should be small and
compact, makes for easier travel, less worry of theft
Weasel Wear
Bras & Underwear: you probably won't wear
these much, most likely will wear bikini's under everything, but it's
nice to have at night/after shower/to feel sexy
Sexy nightgown
Semi-Dressy-Wear
3 colorful sundresses
2, mix-matching sweaters (1 tan, 1
white): These should correspond with at least 2/3 dresses and with
several/most of tops, works great as sun-cover up if you're
sunburnt/too lazy to put on sunscreen
Top-Wear
8 assorted tank top/blouses
½ printed
½ solid: I say this so you will
diversify, wear what you look/feel fabulous in, and what you don't
get a chance to wear regularly, even in summer
Lower-Wear
1 pair tan, long-to-capri convertible
pants: in case of wind/colder day/pre sunrise, post sunset
3-4 pairs shorts/skirts: these should
go with/mix-match with everything
In the end, I didn't pack anything that I didn't wear. Although I did pack more outfits than I had days to wear them, it was nice to dress more casually during the day, and then slip on a sun-dress and sweater in the evening when we were taking walks along the beach, walking around the big hotels or sitting by the poolside bar. Everything I packed served a purpose, if not a double-purpose. Having two pairs of long pants was a MUST, because unexpected rain and wind did happen, and I would have been cold had I not had them. And even though I was on vacation, if I hadn't packed a workout outfit and tennis shoes, I wouldn't have been able to utilize the resort workout room, taken a sunrise jog along the beach, or had good, sturdy shoes to go hiking and beachcombing in. I packed clothes that I looked and felt amazing in, and more than once, my mom said I looked like a movie star! That's what you are going to want. Clothes that are comfortable, make you feel beautiful and fabulous, and practical. Well, I hope this has been helpful. Bon Voyage!!
